Lesson 3.4.2

3.4.2 Mechanical properties of matter Quiz: OCR Physics, Unit 2

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.4.2, Mechanical properties of matter: 20 multiple choice questions for the OCR Physics (H156), Unit 2: Forces and motion, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which feature of a force-extension graph equals the work done in stretching a spring?

    • Maximum force
    • Gradient of line
    • Area under graph
    • Y-intercept

  2. The elastic potential energy stored in a spring obeying Hooke's law is:

    • E = k x
    • E = F x^2
    • E = (1/2) k x^2
    • E = k x^2

  3. Which formula is used to calculate the tensile stress in a stretched wire?

    • Extension / length
    • Stress / strain
    • Force / extension
    • Force / area

  4. Which formula is used to calculate the tensile strain of a stretched wire?

    • Extension / length
    • Force / extension
    • Force / area
    • Stress / strain

  5. Which ratio is used to calculate the Young modulus of a material?

    • Force / area
    • Stress / strain
    • Extension / length
    • Strain / stress

  6. What term describes the maximum tensile stress a material can withstand before fracture?

    • Elastic limit
    • Young modulus
    • Ultimate tensile strength
    • Limit of proportionality

  7. What feature characterises a brittle material before it breaks?

    • High plastic flow
    • Zero elastic deformation
    • Little plastic deformation
    • Large plastic deformation

  8. A wire of length 2.0 m, cross-sectional area 1.0 mm^2, is stretched by a force of 100 N. The stress in the wire is:

    • 2.0 x 10^8 Pa
    • 1.0 x 10^10 Pa
    • 1.0 x 10^6 Pa
    • 1.0 x 10^8 Pa

  9. A material has an original length of 2.0 m. Under load its extension is 0.5 mm. What is its strain?

    • 2.5 x 10^-4
    • 2.5 x 10^-7
    • 2.5 x 10^-3
    • 4.0 x 10^-4

  10. A material has a stress of 2.0 x 10^7 Pa and a strain of 1.0 x 10^-3. What is its Young modulus?

    • 5.0 x 10^-11 Pa
    • 2.0 x 10^4 Pa
    • 2.0 x 10^10 Pa
    • 2.0 x 10^7 Pa

  11. A spring has a force of 20 N at an extension of 0.1 m, with force proportional to extension. What is the elastic potential energy stored?

    • 1.0 J
    • 2.0 J
    • 10 J
    • 0.5 J

  12. A spring of spring constant 400 N m^-1 is extended by 0.05 m. What is the elastic potential energy stored?

    • 0.05 J
    • 20 J
    • 0.5 J
    • 0.25 J

  13. A force-extension graph rises linearly from 0 to 40 N at an extension of 0.2 m. What is the work done?

    • 2 J
    • 4 J
    • 8 J
    • 40 J

  14. A wire of length 2.0 m and cross-sectional area 1 mm^2 extends by 1 mm under a force of 100 N. What is the Young modulus of the wire?

    • 2 x 10^11 Pa
    • 2 x 10^4 Pa
    • 2 x 10^8 Pa
    • 5 x 10^10 Pa

  15. What type of deformation occurs when a wire is stretched beyond its elastic limit?

    • Plastic deformation
    • Polymeric deformation
    • Viscous deformation
    • Elastic deformation

  16. A force-extension curve passes through (extension, force) points (0 m, 0 N), (0.1 m, 20 N) and (0.2 m, 50 N). Using the trapezium rule, estimate the work done.

    • 10 J
    • 4.5 J
    • 3.5 J
    • 5.0 J

  17. What feature on a stress-strain graph indicates that a material is ductile?

    • Zero elastic strain
    • Infinite elastic limit
    • No plastic region
    • Large plastic region

  18. A wire of a given metal, with the same cross-section, has its length doubled. The Young modulus of the wire:

    • Halves
    • Quadruples
    • Doubles
    • Is unchanged

  19. A spring stores energy when stretched by 0.04 m under a force of 12 N, within its limit of proportionality. What energy is stored?

    • 0.24 J
    • 0.48 J
    • 0.024 J
    • 0.12 J

  20. For a material obeying Hooke's law, the energy stored per unit volume is (1/2) x stress x strain. With stress 2.0 x 10^7 Pa and strain 1.0 x 10^-3, the energy per unit volume is:

    • 1.0 x 10^7 J m^-3
    • 2.0 x 10^4 J m^-3
    • 1.0 x 10^4 J m^-3
    • 5.0 x 10^3 J m^-3

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